Ilhan and I decided to leave the Prince of Mirkwood and Mimosa. We said our
farewells and were off. I was not sure where we were going but I realised I
didn't mind. I followed him through the thick trees of Mirkwood forest, and
noticed we were going south. We were not returning to the king. He was
taking me back the way we came, but I wasn't sure why.
"Where do you lead me Ilhan?" I asked. He stopped when he heard my voice and looked at me.
"I am taking you to a secret place where I go to be relieved of my duty." He said in a quiet voice. I just looked at the back of his head, and began thinking why he was taking me to his secret place.
'Could it be that he trusts me or is it just that we are both mortals and it would seem only the right thing to do.' I was thinking. I knew I wasn't making any sense but I didn't care. I continued to follow Ilhan. We came to some thick trees and we both found it hard to get through the trees, as it seemed as though they were hiding something. And then I saw what they were hiding.
I felt as though I was looking at some magical garden. There were flowers of all different colours. Everything seemed to have a sparkle to it and that was what made it seem so magical. As I entered I felt all my troubles and the tension from my body leave me. I felt totally calm and relaxed, and I had never felt this way before but I immediately enjoyed it. I felt like I didn't want to leave the place. I then looked to Ilhan who was staring at me.
"I can see that you like this place." He said with a smile on his face.
"Like, you should say love. This place is amazing, I feel so comfortable here. How did you ever find this place?" I asked curiously. He then looked at me with a thoughtful expression.
"That is actually a good question. I just stumbled upon it I guess. I saw the trees at the entrance and I assumed that it they were hiding something from me. I felt as though they wanted me to go through them. When I did I found this place, and now I always come here whenever I can just to relax." He said daydreaming. He seemed mesmerised by what he saw and I knew I felt exactly the same way. I had never been in a place as beautiful as this. When I think about it I have never been to any place outside Rohan until now.
I sat on the ground on the green grass, and I felt a bit of drowsiness come over me. All of a sudden I wanted to sleep but I couldn't because I was so excited about this new place. Ilhan suddenly interrupted my thoughts.
"Fatima I think we should be making our way back now. You still need to be introduced to the female elves that will be looking after you. But do not fear they are the most wonderful hostesses you will ever have I would have to say. They are very kind and gentle." He said smiling at me.
I was very sadden to know I was leaving. As we left the magical garden I kept looking back on the beauty of it. Ilhan realised this and he stopped and looked at me. I then abruptly stopped in front of him.
"Fatima do not trouble yourself, I shall bring you here again. I felt the same way you did when I first found this place." He said.
"I do wish to come here some time soon, Ilhan. This is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. But Ilhan what is that soothing smell?" I asked, as I smelt this foreign smell.
"It is the athelas plant. You may know it as the kingsfoil. It is a healing herb, it is said to be commonly used by Aragorn, King of Gondor." He said.
"I have never heard of such a plant or smelt such a calming scent." I said as I took a deep breath in through my nose and continued to smell the wonderful scent. I stood there for a moment until Ilhan spoke.
"We mustn't linger anymore. We have to make it back now so you can settle in." He said and continued to walk. I started to follow him and we made our way through the thick trees, which are the only obstacle to this magical garden. They blocked our exit and entrance. We walked back the way we came and then finally after a while of walking we made it back to the king's home.
I was amazed at how the elves and Ilhan could find their way through Mirkwood. Everything looked the same to me. There were no paths and that didn't make it easier for me. There was only one path in the whole forest and it was situated near the middle of the forest and it was called Old Forest Road. If you walked on to the east on Old Forest Road it would lead you to Celduin (River Running). And if you walked to the west of it, it would take you to Rivendell. The Forest River is the only other thing that could serve as a path and that could take you to many places including, Grey Mountains, Esgaroth the Long Lake or Mountains of Mirkwood.
When we did arrive at the king's home Ilhan went inside as I waited for him outside. He went in to find out my lodging information. After a few minutes Ilhan came out and he started to lead me away from the king's chambers. We went along through the trees until we did finally come to some houses. But they looked more like palaces to me. They were heavily decorated with flowers of different beautiful colours. Like those from the magical garden. Outside one of the houses was a very beautiful elf and she was wearing a dark green cloak over a simple but beautiful black dress. She had long black hair and blue eyes like those of Prince Legolas and Mimosa.
Ilhan and I stopped in front of the elf and then she opened her mouth and I heard a very soft and beautiful sound. "Creoso Lady Fatima of Rohan, to my home. My name is Isilme and you shall be staying with me. I do hope you enjoy your stay here with me, as I am sure I will enjoy your company." She said smiling. For some reason I knew I would enjoy my stay.
"Where do you lead me Ilhan?" I asked. He stopped when he heard my voice and looked at me.
"I am taking you to a secret place where I go to be relieved of my duty." He said in a quiet voice. I just looked at the back of his head, and began thinking why he was taking me to his secret place.
'Could it be that he trusts me or is it just that we are both mortals and it would seem only the right thing to do.' I was thinking. I knew I wasn't making any sense but I didn't care. I continued to follow Ilhan. We came to some thick trees and we both found it hard to get through the trees, as it seemed as though they were hiding something. And then I saw what they were hiding.
I felt as though I was looking at some magical garden. There were flowers of all different colours. Everything seemed to have a sparkle to it and that was what made it seem so magical. As I entered I felt all my troubles and the tension from my body leave me. I felt totally calm and relaxed, and I had never felt this way before but I immediately enjoyed it. I felt like I didn't want to leave the place. I then looked to Ilhan who was staring at me.
"I can see that you like this place." He said with a smile on his face.
"Like, you should say love. This place is amazing, I feel so comfortable here. How did you ever find this place?" I asked curiously. He then looked at me with a thoughtful expression.
"That is actually a good question. I just stumbled upon it I guess. I saw the trees at the entrance and I assumed that it they were hiding something from me. I felt as though they wanted me to go through them. When I did I found this place, and now I always come here whenever I can just to relax." He said daydreaming. He seemed mesmerised by what he saw and I knew I felt exactly the same way. I had never been in a place as beautiful as this. When I think about it I have never been to any place outside Rohan until now.
I sat on the ground on the green grass, and I felt a bit of drowsiness come over me. All of a sudden I wanted to sleep but I couldn't because I was so excited about this new place. Ilhan suddenly interrupted my thoughts.
"Fatima I think we should be making our way back now. You still need to be introduced to the female elves that will be looking after you. But do not fear they are the most wonderful hostesses you will ever have I would have to say. They are very kind and gentle." He said smiling at me.
I was very sadden to know I was leaving. As we left the magical garden I kept looking back on the beauty of it. Ilhan realised this and he stopped and looked at me. I then abruptly stopped in front of him.
"Fatima do not trouble yourself, I shall bring you here again. I felt the same way you did when I first found this place." He said.
"I do wish to come here some time soon, Ilhan. This is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. But Ilhan what is that soothing smell?" I asked, as I smelt this foreign smell.
"It is the athelas plant. You may know it as the kingsfoil. It is a healing herb, it is said to be commonly used by Aragorn, King of Gondor." He said.
"I have never heard of such a plant or smelt such a calming scent." I said as I took a deep breath in through my nose and continued to smell the wonderful scent. I stood there for a moment until Ilhan spoke.
"We mustn't linger anymore. We have to make it back now so you can settle in." He said and continued to walk. I started to follow him and we made our way through the thick trees, which are the only obstacle to this magical garden. They blocked our exit and entrance. We walked back the way we came and then finally after a while of walking we made it back to the king's home.
I was amazed at how the elves and Ilhan could find their way through Mirkwood. Everything looked the same to me. There were no paths and that didn't make it easier for me. There was only one path in the whole forest and it was situated near the middle of the forest and it was called Old Forest Road. If you walked on to the east on Old Forest Road it would lead you to Celduin (River Running). And if you walked to the west of it, it would take you to Rivendell. The Forest River is the only other thing that could serve as a path and that could take you to many places including, Grey Mountains, Esgaroth the Long Lake or Mountains of Mirkwood.
When we did arrive at the king's home Ilhan went inside as I waited for him outside. He went in to find out my lodging information. After a few minutes Ilhan came out and he started to lead me away from the king's chambers. We went along through the trees until we did finally come to some houses. But they looked more like palaces to me. They were heavily decorated with flowers of different beautiful colours. Like those from the magical garden. Outside one of the houses was a very beautiful elf and she was wearing a dark green cloak over a simple but beautiful black dress. She had long black hair and blue eyes like those of Prince Legolas and Mimosa.
Ilhan and I stopped in front of the elf and then she opened her mouth and I heard a very soft and beautiful sound. "Creoso Lady Fatima of Rohan, to my home. My name is Isilme and you shall be staying with me. I do hope you enjoy your stay here with me, as I am sure I will enjoy your company." She said smiling. For some reason I knew I would enjoy my stay.